You Just Went a Little Crazy

Hi, and welcome to my second CD, “Cajun Ladies.”
This CD is Blues, Rock and then some…lots of cool guitar stuff, a classic ballad, and my favorite Otis Redding tune… I flew “The Masterful” Andy Haley to New Orleans for this project because no one plays my music better than Andy. Other members: Pascualo Velucci (only speaks Italian) on Keyboards and BB (BeisBol) Villanueva on bass. P. Velucci only speaks Italian BUT BB. Villanueva speaks Spanish and Italian! BB and I are both Cuban and speak Spanish. So I would tell in BB (in Spanish) what to say to Velucci (in Italian) and it’s a good thing that Andy can play drums in different languages because he never knew what was being said. Andy was a charter member of TVG (Tony Vegas Group) which played just about every bar, club, concert stage, and whistle stop in the Philadelphia / New Jersey area last century. This CD was recorded at Word of Mouth studios in New Orleans.

“Cajun Ladies” The song title (and subsequently CD title) was inspired by the group of ladies that make it a pleasure to shop at Don’s Specialty Meats in Carencro Louisiana (just outside of Lafayette)… I think being outgoing and friendly is part of the job description…. Best Boudin anywhere! Go have lunch there sometime.

Now, to the rest of the CD.

TRK 1 “Since You Left Me” -- This is a post break up (or divorce) victory song -- A reflection of all who have moved on and done better. This is a sequel to my song “The Knife” on my “Nawlins Renaissance” CD. “The Knife” is a “sad hurtin song” in an “A minor” blues format --- “Since You Left Me” is an upbeat rock song in “A major.” “You told me I’d be lonely, you told me I’d be sad but that ain’t true…I’m tellin’ you I’m having the best time I’ve ever had….” Guitars used on this song were a Schecter Blackjack Tele and a Fender DC-90 Tele.

TRK 2 “Hey Loretta” (the red sweater song) OK, you scholars of southern literature may know the name Kathy Sue Loudermilk – she may or may not have actually lived or gone to high school in Newnan GA, but she is a character in the works of Lewis Grizzard. Legend has it that she wore her sweater so well that it was retired upon her graduation! BB really nailed the bass grove on this one. Pascualo was not available due to unacceptable public transportation issues. Guitar used: ..Fender DC-90 Tele. A Jim Dunlop Jimi Hendrix WAWA pedal was abused on this track for a very aggressive, very “vocal” guitar sound.

TRK 3 "Because You Touched my Heart"
I've been told this one sounds like Rod Stewart and The Beatles. Pascualo did a great job on keys here and his Mellotron / flutes imitation was right on. We stole ("quoted") a lot of influences from familiar recordings for this one. This track was inspired by the vocal talents of my friend Cheryl (a wonderful singer). I was gigging with Cheryl and her high school friend said that she loves to hear her sing to which I replied; "She'll touch your heart" -- I remember turning to the drummer (Fred) and saying "There's a song here."
Guitars used: Carvin AE-275 (acoustic / electric) and my Fender DC-90 Tele. A Hammond B-3 and a Korg i-3 were used for all the keys. I played bass on this one while BB resolved a personal problem outside the studio......(they broke up).

TRK 4 "Freddy Rides Again"
A cool blues shuffle featuring a stolen Freddy King riff. What can I say? I love Freddy's playing. I recorded Freddy's Hideaway on my last CD "Nawlins Renaissance" and put some of those licks on this one as well. A cool thing happened a while back, I met Freddy's brother (Benny Turner) a great bass player and band leader for Marva Wright -- they gig around New Orleans. Tim (engineer) suggested the WAKKA WAKKAS, slide work, octaves, harmony, and backwards guitar chords --- I think he just wanted to make me work. It turned out real cool. Pascualo didn't make this session, which is probably why Tim thought the track needed help! Guitars used: Schecter Blackjack Tele and a $100 Fender Squire Bullet.

TRK 5 “Cajun Ladies”
Please read write up above (title song). Some nostalgically pleasant chord progressions at work here along with Pascualo’s great idea of adding a Bari sax to the mix. Guitars used on this song were a Schecter Blackjack Tele, a Fender DC-90 Tele, and my $100 Fender Squire Bullet! – this is a great sounding guitar played through Tim’s Fender showman amp turned up. A ZOOM guitar modeler was also used. A Hammond B-3 and a Korg i-3 were used for all the keys.

TRK 6 "Driving on Sunday"
This instrumental is based around BB's Cuban inspired bass line to which I added a cool and simple rhythm pattern. Andy made the whole thing swing by adapting some sort of Cuban-Disco-Dance groove to the line. Pascualo brought in the simple melody and I filled and soloed throughout. Simple Chords reminiscent of the Rascal's "Groovin" is why the title suggests driving on a nice two lane road with green scenery at either side on a clear seventy-eight degree Sunday afternoon at approximately 2:00 PM with the top down (OK, you can substitute an open moon roof if you don't have a rag top). My favorite guitar lick here happens at about 2:53 into the tune. The guitar played was my Fender DC-90.

TRK 7 The "Oompa Loompa"
No, It's got nothing to do with any chocolate factory - THIS IS NOT A FICTIONAL CHARACTER -- I only know the Oompa Loompa as the mystical spirit that visits a certain dojo in Panama City Florida. The Oompa Loompa "appears" only to a chosen few and with no predictable frequency. I have had the privilege of experiencing such appearance a few times. The Oompa Loompa brings wisdom, joy, and happiness to all who see him -- for that we thank our Sensei for only he can bring him to us. The people in the Oompa Loompa song are real people Heather is Heather, she's (sho-dan) a black belt, the Oompa Loompa's "black belt friend with a machine gun" is Richard (yon-dan) 4th. degree black belt and he does have a machine gun. "There's a Grey haired guy in the corner" that's Curtis, He too is Yon-dan (4th. degree black belt). "the bartender is getting drunk" is Keith he is a 2nd. degree black belt (ni-dan) and yes, he is a bartender. "Flat top is tipping the DJ" is Louis (san-dan) third degree black belt and yes, he wears a flat top haircut very well. The Oompa Loompa is very real.

TRK 8 "Have You Ever Had The Blues?"
This is a Powerful, Raw, Power Trio Electric Blues performance with a drum track, a bass track, one guitar track, one vocal track, and no "overdubs." This track is very representative of our live sound when we stretch out and jam. Other versions of this song have Vellucci playing some crazy organ stuff to remind us that while he is 100% Italian we're absolutely assured that there must be Italian colonies in other planets. This track is all blues and nothing but the blues. Andy had originally titled this song "Have You Ever Lost Your Car Keys?" but it featured a couple of MPs from New Jersey and that could have been a publishing dilemma. I played my Fender DC-90 through a Royer Mayer Voo Doo Vibe which wound up costing me $3,000 and a tax problem!

TRK 9 "You Just Went a Little Crazy"
This was a fun track to record. It all started with a Bo Diddley rhythm guitar thing and then we turned it up a notch, and then we turned it up again, and again. There's some interesting guitar harmonies used here and a very powerful bass line throughout. This is the most aggressive sounding track I've recorded since my first solo single "Abby's Bar" back in 1981. There's at least five guitar tracks on this one (of course that left no room for Velucci -- Ha) - most of them on my Schecter Tele. and some on my Fender Bullet. The "chasing you with a knife" part of the song is autobiographical.... this song was originally recorded as "I still Hate Your Friends."

TRK 10 "Try a Little Tenderness"
It's my turn! It's my turn! In the 1930's Big Crosby recorded it - Otis Redding recorded it in the 60's, Three Dog Night in the 70's, The Commitments in the 80's, and now my turn! We started with the "Otis intro" and went right in to heavy guitar. Andy and I played this song every night for years in the original Tony Vegas Group. In TVG we used to speed up the ending quite a bit but for this recording we kept the tempo constant all the way through. I'm pretty sure this is the only heavy guitar version of this song, it even has slide guitar in it. I specially like the very end because it kind of sounds like Bad Company. Guitars used: Schecter Tele, Fender DC-90, and the $100 Bullet! Velucci used a Korg i-3 and a Hammond B-3.

This CD Features the following: All the guitars previously mentioned, a Korg i-3, a Hammond B-3, a Yamaha studio drum set, both basses used were Fenders, all drum sticks used were Andy's


Special thanks to the following dedicated and steadfast personnel:

Skylar - (my granddaughter) the cute little girl on the lower left of the CD cover.

Loretta - nothing else needs to be said.

Julie Foster - For doing all the graphics and actually finding Loretta.

Tim Stambaugh - For putting up with us at the studio and some great ideas (see WAKKA WAKKAS).

Nancy (my beautiful wife) - for putting up with all the "personalities" and making me write "Hey Loretta" --- she wanted this kind of blues shuffle groove and it turned out great! Nancy also came up with the song order for the CD.

Beth (Andy's beautiful wife) for making sure Andy found the right airport and letting him come to New Orleans to play with us and make the whole thing happen.

Gay Gordon - For having to listen to all the tracks as soon as they were recorded.

Special thanks to: Sensei Paris Janos for the inspiration on the Oompa Loompa. Also "Heather and The Dojo Boys"